Federal Endangered
State Endangered |
One of the oldest fish in Virginia is also one of the rarest. Swimming in our rivers before even the dinosaur roamed, the sturgeon is one of the most primitive bony fish found in Virginia and has remained virtually unchanged for over 200 million years!
Unfortunately, the shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) was listed as an endangered species on March 11, 1967 and has been virtually eliminated from Virginia. Once very common in Virginia, it took a hit during the late 1800s and early 1900s with the sturgeon fishery. Sturgeon were exported from the Chesapeake Bay and sent all over the world. Its status is not only a result of over fishing, but of several other human activities including pollution, dams and over-fishing. The sturgeon is best known for its eggs (caviar) and flesh, which are sold as luxury food items and command high prices.
The Virginia Living Museum is the only facility in Virginia to exhibit shortnose sturgeon. Hopefully, through education and environmental awareness, steps can be taken by the community and the species can recover. The species that are exhibited at the Virginia Living Museum came from a captively bred population. These fish have been provided to our facility by the National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Geological Survey under Federal Permit.
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